Christian. But was you fully convinced of this at once?
Hopeful. No; I strove to stifle my convictions; and when my mind was shaken with the word of God, laboured to shut my eyes against the light.
Christian. How so?
Hopeful. I knew not that this was the work of God upon me, but called it lowness of spirits; and sin was so sweet to me, that I was loth to leave it; besides, I could not tell how to part with my old companions.
Christian. Then it seems you shook off your troubles sometimes.
Hopeful. Yes; but it came again worse than before.
Christian. What was it that brought your sins to your mind again?
Hopeful. Many things: as, if I met but a good man in the street; or if I heard one read the bible; or, if my head began to ake; or, if I was told of any that was sick; or, if I heard the bell toll for one that was dead; or, if I thought of dying myself or heard of a sudden death: but, above all, when I thought I must quickly come to judgment.
Christian. But could you not shake off your thoughts?
Hopeful. No; they got faster hold upon me, till I could have no rest in sin.